Curtis has the best grasp on tongues that I have read on here, but he is mistaken about one thing -- that are 3 types of tongues. I'll explain in a moment.
Again, you may have already seen this 3 or 4 times in threads I have written in, but it needs to be done. Whenever discussing scripture and interpretation... Christians should always establish this verse right from the beginning, namely the part I bold typed:
1 Cor 4:6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.
If we stick with what is written, we will not run into error. We will not accept human rationalization, nor domino theory explanations (this touches that, which touches that, which touches this, and this connects to that, and WOW.. crazy conclusion!)
First off, those who do not pray in the tongues are at a loss attempting to understand something outside of their experience. They are trying with their natural mind to understand the things of the spirit, and it's just not going to happen. There might be some understanding, but not the true understanding simply because they have not experienced it for themselves.
EXAMPLE: You can explain how going down a roller coaster has a certain exuberance when you reach the bottom turn that affects you in the abdomen, but until a person experiences such a thing, they will only "kinda" understand.
We should always explain to people that there are deep and wonderful reasons for why a person would want to pray in the spirit (which means tongues) and not just their native English (if they speak English).
Like this: Okay, Addy. When you pray for Rita, you only know a very few things about her. You might know X, Y, and Z, and that she is having an issue at her job lately, so you are able to pray in English X, Y, Z, and the issue you know she has with her job. That's it! That's all. No more.
But the Holy Spirit knows EVERYTHING about Rita, and so when you pray for Rita in the spirit, you He intercedes for her through your praying in tongues, in ways that you can never imagine, and at depths that you could never achieve by praying with your natural understanding.
Allow me to cite the scripture:
1 Co 14:2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
And because this is outside your understanding, you're thinking, "hmmm huh? So what do I think about if I'm speaking in tongues that I do not understand?"
And the answer to that question is given by Paul here:
1 Cor 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
1 Cor 14:15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, and I will pray with my mind also; I will sing with my spirit, and I will sing with my mind also.
Beautiful! So you think about Rita while praying in tongues, and you think various things on her behalf, while the Holy Spirit is praying through you, too.
This is 100% practical! It's not ethereal. Very concrete and helpful to both yourself and Rita.
How is it helpful to myself, you ask?
1 Cor 14:4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
When you pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit is speaking to God through you. When you exercise this gift, you will physically experience on your inner man, which then affects your soul, uplifting... edification.
VERY PRACTICAL. God wants us to be built up. He wants us to build up His church... i.e. edify others. So we need to be built up ourselves in order to do that.
Did not Jesus have to pray everyday, often, to be able to do His ministry which helped others? Of course!
Now this next verse is not exactly about tongues per se, but it's truly on target.
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.
Romans 8:27 And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
I experience this a lot. Sighs and groanings too deep for words. I contemplate the sin of the world and the blasphemies against God and His name, and the injustices I see every day, and I just groan and sigh. If I did not, I would be sicker than sick.
But it's all about prayer.. to the Lord.
I'll come back in a few minutes and pick up... and explain some things that need to be explained from scripture. More about tongues.
BRB